Dropout and Postsecondary Readiness Office

The Office of Dropout and Postsecondary Readiness was established in statute in 2009 and was expanded in July 2010 and includes six grant programs and three initiatives . The office is dedicated to strengthening, coordinating and aligning resources to reduce the Colorado dropout rate and increase graduation and school completion.

Office Responsibilities

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)– A federally-funded grant program that provides academic and enrichment opportunities, with an emphasis on literacy, mathematics and science, to at-risk students in low-achieving schools. Includes 5-year, competitive grants and training and technical assistance for grantees and community partners. 2012 Award: 11,717,063. Contact: Tom Denning, denning_t@cde.state.co.us

Title X – McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program – A federally-funded program that ensures access, stability and educational support for students experiencing homelessness, includes 3-year subgrants to districts and training of homeless education liaisons. 2012 Award: 660,398. Contact: Dana Scott, scott_d@cde.state.co.us

Colorado Graduation Pathways Project – A 5-year, federally-funded project that provides technical and financial assistance to qualifying schools to identify and serve students at greatest risk of dropping out and to reengage students who have dropped out. 2011 Award: $3,000,000. Contact: Peter Fritz, fritz_p@cde.state.co.us

Expelled and At Risk Student Services Grant Program – A 4-year, state-funded program that provides educational services to expelled students and programs to prevent suspensions and expulsions. 2012-13 Award: $7,493,560. Contact: Janelle Kruger, krueger_j@cde.state.co.us

School Counselor Corps Program (SCCP) – A 3-year, state-funded program established to increase the availability of school counselors in secondary schools and promote college going cultures in schools. 2012-13 Award: $5,000,000. Contact: Misti Ruthven, ruthven_m@cde.state.co.us

Foster Care Education – A new program launched in 2012 to increase education stability of students in foster care. Includes training of Child Welfare Education Liaison, technical assistance on effective transitioning planning and strengthening partnerships and collaboration between local education agencies and child welfare agencies.

Concurrent Enrollment – Facilitates the Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board and provides technical assistance and training to effectively implement concurrent enrollment programs, which refers to the simultaneous enrollment of a qualified student in a local education agency and in an institution of higher education. Concurrent enrollment includes “5th year” ASCENT program for students retained by the high school for instruction beyond the senior year.

Designated Graduation Districts – Requires identification of “priority” and “high-priority” districts in need of increasing their graduation rate and decreasing their dropout rate. The initiative includes conducting a practices assessment and developing a student graduation and completion plan as part of the district’s Unified Improvement Plan (UIP).

Individual and Career Academic Plans (ICAPs) - Assists students and their families in the following areas: exploration of postsecondary career and educational opportunities available, alignment of course work and curriculum, application to institutes of higher education and access to financial aid.

Major Projects

Dropout Prevention and Student Engagement Evaluation Project. 2.5 year contract with University of Northern Colorado to establish an evaluation framework for live grant programs in the office of DPSE.Through 2013-2014 ICAP Project Coordinates development of tools and materials to implement ICAP at the school and district level. Includes ICAP study by UNC to determine elements of successful ICAP implementation. Under development and ongoing.

Schedule of Request for Proposals McKinney Vento-RFP to be released in Spring 2013.

21st CCLC-No new RFP’s scheduled for release at this time.

EARSS-New RFP’s to be released in Spring 2013.

School Counselor Corp-letter of intent due in early 2012, New RFP’s to be released in Spring 2013.